Rotary crimper for cigar machines



Nov. 9, 194.3. FERENCI ROTARY CRIMPER FOR CIGAR MACHINES 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 23, 1940 INVENTOR LESTER FERENCI MW ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR LESTER FERENCI v ATTORNEY- Nov. 9', 1943. FERENCI ROTARY CRIMPER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed Dec. 25,- 1940 v s \N\ .Nov. 9,1943. L. FERENCI 2,334,147

ROTARY GRIMPER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed Dec. 23, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 3

"l" I, INVENTOR LESTER FgRENCI ATTORNEY- Nov. 9, 1943.. I F 2,334,147

ROTARk QRIMPER FOR'CIGAR MACHINES Filed Dec. 23, 1940 fi sheets-sheet 4 g 1 NTOR LESTER FERENCI ATTORNEY Nov. 9, 1943. FERENCI 2,334,147

I ROTARY CRIMPER F OR CIGAR MACHINES Filed Dec. 25, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 7

INVENTOR LESTER FERENCI ATTORNEY tiplex crimping devices.

Patented Nov. 9, 1943 "UNITED! STATES. PAT

'T b O FICE? RorARv CRIMPER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Lester Ferenci,'Brooklyn; N. Y., assignor to Intionof New Jersey ternational- Cigar Machinery Co, fa corpora- I Application December 23(1940. sel iauvaauezo, i

cigar machines and more particularly to cigar bunch'shap'ers and to the means for carrying cigarbunches to and from cigar bunch shapers.

Cigar crimpers used heretofore have been of the intermittently operated type; thatis to say,

they always had to stop operating while a cigar bunch was being inserted or taken out of the jaws of the crimper. Of course-this necessarily slowed the machine "down and did not provide for a smooth continuous operation of the crimping mechanism. '1 1 It is therefore an object of 'the present inventionto provide a simplified and improved cigar crimperwhich has a rapid-andtcontinuous operation and' whichdoes not'have tobestopped while a' cigar bunch is-being inserted between or taken out from the jaws of the 'crimpen. x

' It isalso anobject. of the invention to utilize this principle of continuous operation, which will be hereinafter disclosed, for both single and mul- A further object is to provide an improved I cigar bunch transferQdeVice-whi'ch will satisfactorily transfer cigarbunchesto and from'a continuously revolving bunch shaping mechanism;

A further .object is to provide continuously rotating bunch shapers in which there :will be.

such relative motion of theshapingimembers at'the time of their separation as to sufliciently loosen the bunch in a peeling manner from the faces of the bunch shaping members to prevent possible injury to the bunch. t

It is also an object to'provide 'a simplified means for obtaining any type relative motion between cigar shapingmembers as may be desired when opening or closing the shaping menibers. K

Another object is' to provide an improved and simplified crimper which 'will "crimp a cigar bunch by purelyflarcuate movementof the crimping members and which will be aself-contained unit having only one connection to a moving part of the cigar machine. t

"A further object is to provide crimpingjaws t which will be of improved and 'simplifie d'construction and which can be quickly-and easily adjusted to align the same with respect to one another and also to handle different length cigar bunches;

It is'also an object to provide adjustable crimper jaws each of which can be set independently of any other jaw of the crimper.

.It is also an object to provide a simplified and .improvedmultiplex cigar bunch. crimper which This invention relates to improvements in can be used witha high speed cigar machine and therebylallow the time for crimping a cigar bunch to be increased without diminishingthe speed of the cigar machine.-

Other objects and features of thefinven'tion .will appear as thedescription of the particular .physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses.

.- In-theaccompanying drawings, which "forrna .removing transfer;-

"Fig" 3 is a, plan view-of. the crimper (alliacated by line.3,3 of Fig. Lthe bunch trimming devices being omittedt Fig. 4 is. a "sectional? stats o the Jamar illustrating thefposition of thecrimper arms thedifferent stages of operation and also show ing a portion o f the bunch inserting and removing mechanisms; y c N Fig 5 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 5+5 f Fig.6 is asec tional view taken on the line 6+6 f s- 1; and 1,. t

Fig' '7 isa sectional view taken on the line 1 .o g 'Referring to the drive of: the cigar machine is connected to coupling l 0 of shaft l 2; this connection, as will 'appear, being the only drive connection necessary f for the operation of the shaper. Pinion M attached to shaft [2 meshes with gear liito which n is securedag'ear I 8. *Both gears l6 and [8' rotate freely on stationary stud :20. Gearl8 mesheswith gear 22 which is secured to shaft 24 which is' free to rotate in bearings 26 and 28 in stationary cam brackets 30" and "32, respectively, these bracketshavingf cam tracksuor. grooves for controlling the operation of the shaping memhers as will be hereinafter described. 1

- It is therefore possible in the present invention to obtainfany type opening, closingor peel ng motion of the crimper jaws as might be desired,

by merely. substituting a cam track having coni tours which will produce the desiredrelative,

.motions: between theopposed crimper; jaws ,as

elevation, partly section, of

drawingain Fig. l the main mentionedabove. Desirable openingvand closing motions of the crimper'jaws, such as shown in U. S. Patent No. 1,729,440, may therefore be easily obtained.

- The cam bracket 32 is secured at its lower portion by clamp screws 6| passing through lugs 59 formed thereon and threaded into table 32a I (Fig. 3) to hold-the bracketin place- Cam bracket 30 is. supported by table wa, (Fig. 3).

.The cam'brackets maybe removed and replacedv with other cam brackets having cam tracks of different contour,-

A barrel-shaped frame 3 4, wh ichissecured to" shaft 24, has a cup shaped, flange at each of its ends which provide bearings for shafts 3.6 33, "4&-

and 42, to each of which are attached crimper arms 33, 44-35, 46 31, 48- and 39,;50 respec tively, on which are formed the crimper jaws for the tuck and the head ends of the; cigars. v

Itwill be noted that the opposed bunch shapingjaws have convex and concave facings 5 and l-lfl-whi'ch enable the jawsto close at sub- --stantially right angles to one another. Although these jaws are shownto' be integral'with 'the 'crimper arms 44, 46, I8 and-50, and 33, "35, 31

and 3!; they may also be removably-attached thereto-in order to allow them to be quickly replaced. v v v Each'of the shafts--36; 3%, 4H and fl-j'is provided 'at one end with a lever having a cam roller which engages in a camgroove in one or the other of the cam brackets 36 and 3-2. 43 and 5201 the levers H -i'an'd Sit/which are attached to 'the'adjacent ends of the shafts 36 and 4U, engage ina cam groove T'form'edin the cam bracket 35; these shafts supporting the The cam rollers formation of the cigar bunch when the jaws are closed. 3

Cam track 55 of cam designed to actuate cam levers 58 and 62 which in turn causes the swinging movements of crimper arms 35, 46 and 39, 5E! respectively, thereby -eifecting an opening and closing of the crimper jaws of saidcrimper arms The portion ZIO of track 55; causes said crirnper arms tofopen, al-

lowing a finished shaped cigar bunch to be extracted' from their crimper jaws, at the bunch crimperanns 3.3;M'and13'l, til-of the two-sham.

'i'ng devices. The can'rrollers 56 and 60* of the levers 58 and" Sfjwhich are attached tothe adj'oini'ng endsjof the shafts 38 and #2.; engage in acarn 'groove .55 formed in the other cambracket 32.; these shafts supportinglthe crirnper arms'35,

and38; 50 of, the shaping devices. {Ifhe eam grooves 55.- and 5lv are so formed as to effect turning movement's of thevaricusshafts at the proper time. to. effect the required opening and closing movements of the shaping. jaws,

It will be remembered that to enable a. shaped bunch. to be removed from a shaping device and anew bunch to be delivered thereto, the arms 33' and 4.4 are moved backwardly with respect to I the direction of rotation of the supporting'member' 34 and; the arms wandee are movedgoutwardly, as indicated by the dotted arrows in liig. 4 at thefdcttedpositions of the. crimper arms shownadjacent the bunchposition B641, to. permit removal: of ithehunch from'position Bfia by the transfer fingers; 38f and. 93.; After; receiving a bnnchnupon their jaws, the arms and 46 are moved-inwardly and they arms 33 and-Maremoved forwardly with; respect: to thesaid directionof rotation to grin-theabunch: endsbetween the shaving surfaces and 41, as indicated by the solid arrows atthe full line positions: of arms 44 6 ends. 46. shownl irr. Fig. 4, untii they; reach the fully closed' po'sitionshowrr in'F-igsi 2. and 4.1; This posi-' tinn of. the crimper armscorresponds to. the dotted positions of the arms shownfor. hunch position 33a; in Fig. J4; butthe: arms are fully closedrbefore they reachfpositiorr 33a. The'shaping-sur v facesof the jaw sof each opposed .or: cooperating pair of arms: (as thearms iil and-'56) are prop- .er-ly shaped, as shown in dotted-lines in Fig; 1, to produce the desired conicalaorltaperedend position B60, (Fig. 4), by means of transfer fingers!!! and'Eill, as the frame 34 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 5). Said jaws then remainfop'en until a new bunch is inserted byfinge'rs wand Til, after whicha gradual closing of said jaws will be effected by portion 212 of I I -cam55, As the respective rollers 56 and 60 .of

arms 58 and G2 reach the concentric portion 2,

thejaws are closed and remain closed while said rollers pass through saidv corncentricportion. 'Ihe rollers follow theoam track in the direction .in- 1 dicatedby ans-arrow in Fig. 5.x

Cam. track 57E of cam bracket 30iEigL16) is designedto actuate cam. arms it and 54 which in cause the swinging 'movementsof their respectiye. crimper'arins 33,-M 3.1, ".2 Portion I .206 of track: 5:! causes said crimpen arms to open and/swing out of the way while a finishedshaped hunch isliftedont. of the crimper jaws: bystmnsfer fingers 88 and. 902 at. bunch position Eta... Poi-.-

tion 292 keeps said crimper arms .in'ian open position and'portion 264 effects a closing ofithe same after-anew bunch-has beerrfinsertedrinto the crimper jaws-"by means offing'ers 68:. and II. :The concentric. portion: zllfiikeeps jaws. anarms 33;;Mrand 31:; 48- inra closedposition' during which time the bunch is-shap'ed. Rollers-i 43 and 51. of arms 4 Iv 54- respectively,;follow the camtrack inthe direction of the arrow indicated: in Fig.6.

Camv track 220. in gear Zz'QFIgURJ'aguZdes the cam roller H4 which throughcanr levenl l1 and arm: Hi8. effects the-swinging'movement of: trans fer fingers .83 and $83v while Lthe; latter. lift 7 the finished shaped cigar bunch-.nutofcrimper jaw 45 :and' 4.1.. Since two; sets of crimper jaws are disclosed in. this? application, said transfer fingers are doingtwo lifting operations during onecycle of; the machine; Therefore two high portions 220 grille-same size and shape located; exactly oppo- I site:each other are provided in the otherwiseconcentric cam trackfia;

Referring to Fig. ;2', -the:bunch=is;shownat Bl having been delivered from the rolling tablee'and deposited in the cradle 64 ofthe bun-chsoftener GBina manner similar tothe operation described impending patent application; Ser. No;-23&,001, filed October 8, 1938 by H. H. Wheeler.

As; the bunch Bl proceeds through thesoftener,

it is intercepted atBZr by gripperrfingers 68 and 1.0,. and is held securely therein by meansv of a spring Hi pulling said. fingers together. Gripper finger G8 is secured to shaft 12,. 'aznchfinger I0 is free to swing on this shaft to alimited extent, A set' screw 14 limits theclosed position of finger 13. as it is acted, on by closing spring Iii. The transfer fingers :88 and 98 of the bunch transfer shown in Fig.2 may be. similarly connected by a tension spring use which: acts topull them together, and the closed position. thereof may be similarly. limited bya stop. screw 90a 4 threaded into: one of these fingers and engaging the other finger. Y

vWhen. the bunch. has

bracket 32 (Fig. 5) is been gripped by fingers .68 and ID, as shown. inpositiorr B2; an arm",

having the shaft I2 freelymounted inits upper end, starts swinging in the directiono'f the rotating crimper An arr'n'f80 isfixedly attached to shaft I2 and is provided with 'a roller-'82 which travels in a'carn track 84 for controlling the angular displacement of the gripper fingers.

During the transit ofth'e bunch from position B2 to B20, (Fig. 4), the swinging motion of arm '10 is temporarily halted at the bunch looator '86 to positionthe bunch-axially before entering the crimper. This operation of positioningthe cigar hunch is performed in a manner similar to that "described in. the patent" application above referred to. v 8

As the transferproceedstowards the crimpers, the gripping fingers,at the end of the swing of arm I8, deposit the-bunch at BZ (Fig. 4) in the facings 41 of the crimper jaws'on the arms 40 and 35. The position 1B2 shows the bunch just before it is stripped out of fingersBB and 10 by means of. the crimper jaws. The arms 33 and 44 having been in open position to permit entry of the bunch will then close, removing the bunch from the gripper fingers, as shown at position B3, (Fig. 2) .and arnis 33,- M will then swing further and remain inthis' position while traveling through the positions Ba B3 and B4 (Figs. 2 and 4) The jaws at said position'are in closed gripping relationship. Ihe frame 34 is continuously' driven, and does not stop for the purpos of receiving'or dischargingcigar bunches.

. As the facings 45and 4'! on the arms 48 and'50 andz3'I and 39, holding the bunch in a tight squeeze, advance in the direction of the arrow, the bunch B4 reaches the position indicated by B5, Fig.2, where aset of gripper fingers Y88 and 90 are :in position to engage and pickup the advancnism-(not'shown). V

Sinceythe crimping devicecontinuously rotates,'a novel and improved cigarbunch transfer .ing bunch for transfer to thewrapping. mechamechanism has been provided which moves a, short distancein the direc'tionofthelcrimpers rothey can followthe crimping jaws for a short distance when removinga cigarbunch therefrom.

crimping jaws.

removed from the crimping device, the gripper fingers are returned totheir substantially vertical cam'groove 2Z formedin gear 22 (Figs. 1 and 2).

The gear segment I08,"operated by. means of the oamrollerv II4 following the cam groove 22a.

formed in gear -22,.coact s with the toothedrack bar] 06 to swing the lever arm I00. The lever a-rm I001in turn, by means of the sprocket chain 'flii,

swings the gripper fingers a short distance in the direction of rotation of the crimping mechanism Whenlifting the crimped cigar bunch' from the When thelcigar bunch has been position by means of; the further action of the cam groove mentioned above upon the cam roller lldsand maintained in said vertical position, while the arm I2 6 moves toward and backfrom bunch*depositing position, by the turning of sprocket 94 created'by holding the sprocket 98 stationary at this time. 7 i

Whenthebunch reaches, the position indicated by B6,the gripper fingers 88land 90 haveencomtation in order to remove the cigar bunch without injuring the same. The piesent device is. an

. improvement over the. transfer shown in U. S.

Patent No. 1.7862608.

Therefore, in, order to maneuver the gripper fingers 88 and Bil into po- ,sition to properlyengage and follow. thebunch ,as it travels in its circular path; the shaft 92,

from which the fingers 88 and" 901 are suspended, is connected by means of a sprocket 94 and an endless chain Stto a sprocket B3. The shaftd'ilz is suppOrted bysuitable bearing brackets-I30.

The arm I 25 is fixedly secured to sleeve I20 which -is freelymounted on shaft I02. The sleeveIZB is connectedto suitable operating mechanism, such asthe pinion 24 and rack '23S11OWI1- in Patent 1,786,608,.so as to impart timed oscillating movement to the transfer arm I265 to} carry the fingers 88 and 90 from a predetermined bunch depositing position to the dottedposition of these fingers (Fig. 2) wherein they encompass the bunch'at position B6, the .fi'ngers spreading apart against the resistance of spring 8811 as they engage thebunch during the descent of arm 126 and thereby gripping the bunch. Lever 'I iii], operated by means .of link Hi4, imparts actuating movement to shaft I02. This movement of shaft I02 in turn, through sprockets .30 ended and chain 95, causes swinging movement to be imparted to the transfer fingers wand 90 from their full line position adjacent"bunch'position passed and gripped-the bunch and hold it while following its advance in the crimpers. i

The position 36* .(Fig. ,,4) shows how the crimper jaws separate. along angular paths of travel inprder-to effect a peeling motion and thereby loosen the bunch from the jaws before separating- The transfer fingers continue their travel to position B! (Fig. 2) and thence to a bunch, depositing station.--- 5 a :While in transit the; bunch, as, it ,is held squeezed in the crimpers, passes by two stationary knives Band II 8 whichtrim off anytobacco that may protrude from between the concavefacings 4s and ll'at ;either-the head or the} tuck end of the bunch- In order that the knives might slide against the end of said facings without damaging either the knives or the facings, beveled run-up portions 09 fileand 5i are formed at the ends of the crimper jaws 4B, 35 and 50, 39 for the knives to slide up on. The knives themselves arealso slantingly formed in order to be more efficient in cutting the overhanging tobacco ends. 7 l

:The crimper arms lll, 4 5 48 and 5d are adjustably mounted on their respective shafts 36, 38, 40 andAZ, by suitable means such as clamp screws 53,- in order to accommodate cigar bunches of difierent length, and theknives H6 and H0 are similarly mounted on a barfl 20 by suitable means such'as clamp screws I2I i Itwill be noted that the inan'ner in. which'the crimper arms are mounted enables the jaws to be adjusted not onlyra'xiallyasstated above for accommodating'different length cigars, but they may also be adjusted radially for the purpose of aligning the opposing jaws with one another. As a result, it is no longer necessary that there be sucn'great accuracy in forming the component parts of thecrimper jaws since they can "now be 1 more readily aligned after being mounted upon their respective shafts.

' Although the crimping device has been sl'iowir iinith form of a duplex'crimper having two sets or jaws, it is also possible to embody the disclosures orthis application in: a crimping device having only one pair of crimping jaws; or. in a crimping devicehaving three or' more pairs of crimping jaws. "In other words, applicant does notwislii to limit himself, to duplex crimpers only, but wishes to include within the scope of the sub-- joined claims crimping devices embodyingnthe novel features of this invention regardless of 'the number of shaping members associated therewith; unless otherwise specifically limited therein. The invention above described may be varied in constructionwithin the scopeof the claims,

'for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many concrete. embodiments of the same. The" invention therefore is not tobe restricted to theprecise details of the structure shown and-described.

What is" claimed is:

1. In a cigar machine, a continuously rotating crimper comprising a rotating member, a'plu- 'rality of shafts" mounted in and traveling with said member, crank armsoonne'cted to one end of each of said shafts, cam followers connected to said crank arms, stationary cam-tracks arranged to receive said cam followers for oscillatin'g said shafts, spaced opposed arm's fixedly con"- nected at one end to said shafts, cigar shaping jaws connected to the other end of said arms, and means for rotating said centralmember so as to bring said jawsinto and out'ofbunch shaping relation with each other. i

2; In 'a cigar machine, a continuously rotating crimper comprising a central memberrotating about a horizontal axis, a pluralityofshafts par-,

allel with said horizontal axis and movably mounted in said central member, spaced opposed arms adjustably connected to said shafts, cigar shaping jaws associated with the ends of" said spaced opposedarms, and means for oscillating said shafts in timed -relation so as to bring said jaws into andiout of bunch shaping relation each other;

3.11; a ciganm'ac'hine, a rotating crimper for shaping-- theendsjof a'cigarv bunch comprising. a

central membercontinuously rotating abouta substantially horizontal axis, members movabl'y connected to said central member, arms' ri idly connected to said members for swinging move grippers away from a vertical position when receiving' a cigar bunch to be transferred.

, 5. In a cigarmachine, a rotary crimping, device comprising a continuously rotating central member, crimping jaws swingingly connected to said i central member, means for bringing said jaws into and outof crimping engagementfa driving means fol: continuously rotating said central member, a bunch carrying transfer, fingers mounted at one end of said transfer for removing cigar bunches from the continuously rotating crimper jaws, and means for swinging said. fingers-a. short distance in the path of rotation-pf the crimper jaws to remove the cigar bunch withouttearing the wrapper.

6. In a cigar machine, a continuouslyrotating crimper comprising-a plurality of oppositely dis posed bunch-shaping members, means for moving said members relatively toward-each other into bunch shaping position at one part of the crimpers path of rotation, and'means for relatively moving said opp'ositelydisposed members away from each other along angularly related paths in order toloosenv the bunch from the members at another part of the crimpers path of rotation.

7'. In a cigar machinaacontinuously rotating crimper comprising a plurality of oppositely"dis-' I posed bunch shaping'members, means for moving said membersrelatively toward each other into bunch shaping position,and means for relatively moving said oppositely disposed members away from each other along angularly related paths in order to loosen the bunch from the bunch shaping members. .i

8. In a cigar machine, a rotating cigar bunch shaper comprising a continuously revolving central member, a plurality of paired bunch shaping opposedmembers disposed around said revolving central member, means for causing a pair of oppositely disposed bunch shaping members'to move relatively toward each other into bunch shaping position, means for withdrawing one member of the, pair from closed position, and

additional. means for withdrawing the i other ,.member .of said pair alonga path at an angle to the path of movement of the first named member in order, to loosen the bunchfrom the members.

9. In a cigar machine, a continuously revolving crimping device I comprising i a revolving central member, a plural ty of movable arms connected to said central member for' revolutiontherewith,

means for movingsaidarms toward each other at one part of the path of revolving or said central, member, and for moving said arms awayfrorn of revolveachother at another. part of the path ing of said centralmember.

, 10'. In a cigar machinaa continuously rotating a J multiplex bunch forming device,compris ing a r'otating' central member, a plurality of paired arms .movablyconnected to said central member for ro- 1 tation therewith, bunch forming'jawsas'sociate d with the endsof saidarms for crimping only-the ends of a cigar bunch-means for producing relative closing movement of a pair of jawsalon'g paths of travel predetermined with respect to said,

jaws 'for crimping a cigar bunch and for 'producing adifierent relative opening movement of a pair of jaws along other paths of travel 'prede termin'ed with respect to said jaws to efiect a peeling motion in order to properly loosen the bunch i from the bunch shaping jaws.

1l. A cigar bunch shaper comprising a continuously revolving .member, a plurality .of paired bunch shaping jaws movably connected to spaced opposed pivots mounted in said member having one jaw with a concave facing andanother jaw with a convex facing for shaping the ends of a cigar bunch, and means for bringing said movable jaws into and out of bunch shapingrelationship without changingthe spaced opposed distance between said pivots.'

12. A continuously operating cigar bunch shaper comprising a continuously revolving member, a plurality of paired bunch shaping jaws movably connected to said member, and means tor 2334,14 4 bringing said movabl jawsdnto andout of: bunch 1 shaping relationship;

13. A cigar bunch shaper comPrising a continue ouslyrotating central member, a1 pluralitysof paired-movable arms connectedatione end tothe I central member and having bunchshaping jaws fixed to the otherend thereof, andmeans--for bringing said arms and jaws intobunchshaping e ti s ip at. pproximately right angles ,to one another, c a

14. In a cigar machine,,acontinuously-revolving cigar bunch shaping device comprisingasupport, shapingmembers movably. connected to said support, and means for bringing said-shaping members into and out of bunch shaping relation- I 16. In a cigar machine,"theicombination of continuously revolving cigar bunch; shaping dew vice comprising shaping members, means for clos ing and opening said shaping members, anda cigar bunch transfer for removing cigar bunches; Y from said shaping members whilesaid cigar bunch shaping device in continuallyrevolving, cmprisingan arm, bunch grippers carried by, said arm, and means for swinging saidgrippers in the re-, volving direction of the bunch shaping device so said support,each shaping member of each of said I pairs, being ,-movably=mounted;-andmeans for I bunch shapingrelationship 1 bringing said shaping members into-and out of 22. A cigar, bunch-shaper comprising a sup port, a pairof spacedopposed pivots fixed. in relationship tokeach othenimovable opposed lxbunch shapingymembers connected atjone end to each. of

said, pivots "for shaping" bunches ,IbetWeenT said members exclusively, means foricausing one of 'said' bunch; shaping members tosmove' along one arcuate path; and for: causin :the other op'pimed shaping: member to move-along another arcuate path so as to bringsaidmembers intobunch'shaping relationship by only swinging the two opposed I bunch shaping members toward oneianother.

' 23; A cigar bunch shaper coin'prising a sup port, a, pair of m-ovableopposedbunch shaping I members each of said membersibeingrconnected at. one T end to "spaced, opposed 'movable shafts mounted in said supporti said shafts being fixed" in relationship to each other and mounted for rotary movement along their longitudinal'riaxesg meansuforrcausing each ,ofl'said opposed bunch =shapingmembersfto travelttoward each other at arcuate, paths into juxtaposition; andfori'causing oneyof said jaws to continue its travelyalong'am arcuategpathwwhen in juxtaposition until itarrives inlbunch shaping position.

124. A multiplex cigar bunch crimper for'shaping the .ends of apluralityfloi cigar bunches at a onetime comprising .a support, pairs of op- -poscl-crimping jaws for shaping cigar bunches as to avoid damaging the bunch in removing it from the moving shaping members.

17. In a cigar machine, a cigar bunch transfer comprising an arm, bunch grippers carried by said arm, and means for swinging said bunch grippers while the arm remains stationary so as :to grip acigar bunch without damagingthe bunch;

18. A cigar bunch shaper comprising a continuously revolving central member, a plurality of movable arms connected at one end to the central member and having bunch'shaping:j aws fixed to the'other end thereof, means for bringing said,

arms and jaws into bunch shaping relation with one another, and means for adjusting laterally the distance between said jaws to accommodate different length cigars.

19. In a cigar machine, a bunch shaping device comprising a continuously revolving member, cam

actuated movable bunch shaping jaws connected to said revolving member, cam mechanism for between said pairs of jaws exclusively, movable arms connected to said support for supporting said crimping jaws, meansfor moving said arms into and out of bunch shaping relation, and ,mechanism having only one connection to a 1 moving part of a cigar machine for imparting bunch crimper.

operating motion to the entire "multiplex cigar 25. In a cigar machine, a cigar bunch shaper" comprising a support, a cigar bunch shaping member having a hooked shaped jaw, connected to said support, a second cigar bunch shaping member having a hooked'shaped jaw which is adaptedto coact with the jaw of the first named I cigar bunch shaping member, and ,means for bringing said jaws into cigar bunch shaping relation along arcuate paths substantially transverse to one another.

opening said jaws along one angular path of travel with respect to each other and closing said jaws along another angular path of travel with respect to each other. 7 u

20. A cigar bunch shaper comprising a continuously revolving central member having a plurality of pivotal support membersga plurality of, movable arms connected at one endto each of said pivotal support members and havingbunch shaping jaws fixed to the other end thereof, means for bringing said arms and jaws into, bunch shaping relation with one another, and means foradj usting said bunch shaping jaws'circumferentially about said pivotal support members for aligning saidbunch shaping jaws with one another.

21.In a cigar machine, a multiplex crimping,

. 26. A shaper for shaping the ends of a cigar bunch consisting of a pair of shaping jaws, means for swinging one shaping jaw along one arcuate path and additional means for swinging the other shaping jaw along another arcuate path substan:

tially transverse to the path of the first named jaw so as to crimp theends of a cigar bunch.

27. A cigar bunch crimper comprising a central member, a plurality of movable arms con-' nected atone end to'the central member and hava ing bunch shaping jaws connected to the other end thereof, Y means for bringing said arms and jaws into bunch shaping relation with one another, and means for adjustably setting each of c said armsindependently of any otherarm.

device for shaping the ends of a cigar bunch comprising a continuously revolving support, a plurality of paired shaping members connected to 28. Bunch shaping mechanism for a cigar machine, includinga rotary supporumeans operative to continuously rotate said support, a shaping device mounted on said support and comprising a pair of arms pivotally mounted on the support for movement about v circumferentially spaced apart pivotal axes,'said arms being provided at their free ends with cooperating shaping jaws, andmeans operative to control the"posi tions andxangular movements-v of said :arms :dur-

'ing the COIIfiHUOHSiTOtHtlOII of the support, said means being arranged to move, one arm. outwardly and the other armTearw'ardly at .one point ineach rotation of the support toopen said jaws for the removal of a shaped bunch and the reception of an unshaped bunch; and to move said Lone arm; inwardly and .said other arm. forwardly at anothermoint in said rotation :to close said am:

uponzithemnsha'ped bunch. 1

2'29; 1 Gigarbunchshaping mechanism fora-cigar machine including, a .fcontinuously rotating supportfimeans operative to'continuously. rotate said support; cigar shaping mechanism connected to said-support for travelitherewith, and means for delivering; and removing cigar bunches to and bunch and movable :to carry said gri ping device aways from. saidpathto remove the bunch',' said' arm beingxswingably -mounted about -an axis p sitionedmbetween. a hunch receiving position and a bunch delivering-station, and mechanism fori;t urning thegripping device abputta pivotal mountingat thei'f-ree'end of; said-arm to maintain said device: in a-'-pendant'position during the swinging momma taaf zthe arm and to cheat I movement r the g-ripping' device n the dire'e' tion of travel of the bunch when TgeiYkiE-Q hunchfor transfer-.1 a

31. iqiga r bunch "handling-and shaping mach "anism comprising; a centinueusl-y -rotatiag*sufi-= n.

port, means; operative'to continuously retate saili support -cigar shaping mechanism cenne'oted 'te said support iertifavel therewith, and" Gig!!! transfeflinechaiiis'm =f01'= delivering =cigar bi'rnehe to said traveling cigar shaping mechanismfduring' thetraveling movementthereef} :32; iirans'ier mechanism-{er delivering :cig'm l bunches' tq a traveling shapingdevice "cemprising',-aswing able' arm; a bunch grippingdevioe ,movably mounted at the free end thereof, and" means acting on said gripping devioe dui ing the deliveryera bunch :togs'aid shaping device to cause saidgrippingde'vice' -1'1i1ele'r' the control of saidarm and saidm'eans to move-substantially withzthe shapin g'device for *a-cei'tain distance;

33. Transfer 4 mechanism for delivering cigar hunches to' a travelin'g shaping device compris ing, a 'swingable arm, a bunoh gripping cle'viee mdvaply mounted "atthe -freeend tl ereoflarwl meansi-acting -on saidgrippingdevice duringthe delivery' of a bunch to said shaping device tocause said gflpping device under the control of' said arm and said' me'an's te move substantially" with the shaping'deviee ma certaindistance',

said meansfcomprisingan arct at'e cam member engaging a 'cam f f ollower on" an arm cormectedto the grippingvdevice.

; FERENCI. I 

